Overview

SafeAbroad analysts have assessed that students studying abroad face a heightened risk of cybersecurity threats due to reliance on unfamiliar networks, digital services, international financial transactions, shared accommodation and remote access to university systems. These conditions increase the exposure to cyber threats such as phishing attacks, credential compromise, malicious Wi-Fi networks and scams targeting international students.¹ The growing dependence on online learning platforms, cloud storage, mobile banking, and university portals means that a successful cyberattack can have significant academic, financial, and personal consequences, including loss of coursework, unauthorized access to university accounts, financial fraud, and exposure of personal data.²

Key Takeaways

1. Phishing attacks remain the most significant cyber threat to students. Phishing attacks often involve attackers impersonating universities, banks, government agencies, accommodations and visa authorities to steal credentials or financial information.³ Students studying abroad may be particularly vulnerable as they regularly interact with unfamiliar institutions and administrative processes.
2. Compromised university credentials can provide access to email, coursework, cloud storage, and institutional systems. Due to these accounts often providing access to sensitive information and connected university services, they are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Attackers may also use compromised student accounts to distribute phishing emails, gain additional credentials, or gain access to broader university networks.

3. International students are particularly vulnerable to scams and are often targeted by cybercriminals. These scams commonly exploit concerns about immigration status, visa compliance, tuition payments, and legal requirements. Students who are unfamiliar with local processes and authorities may find it more difficult to distinguish legitimate communications from fraudulent ones.

Background

Students studying abroad face a unique combination of circumstances that can increase their exposure to cyber threats. 

Unlike domestic students, international students are often required to navigate unfamiliar digital environments while simultaneously managing academic, financial, and administrative responsibilities. Activities such as opening local bank accounts, arranging accommodation, transferring tuition payments, accessing government and immigration services, and connecting to unfamiliar networks create multiple opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.⁴

International students may also have limited familiarity with local institutions, regulations, and communication practices. Students having a limited understanding can make it more difficult to distinguish legitimate messages from fraudulent ones, particularly when communications appear to originate from universities, government agencies, banks, or immigration authorities. Attackers frequently exploit uncertainty surrounding visa requirements, legal obligations, and administrative processes to create a sense of urgency that increases the likelihood of compliance.⁵

Common Cyber Threats

• Phishing attacks remain one of the most significant cybersecurity threats that students abroad face. Attackers commonly impersonate universities, financial institutions, technology providers, and government agencies in an attempt to obtain login credentials, personal information, or financial details. These attacks often use urgent language related to tuition payments, account verification, scholarship opportunities, visa compliance, accommodation or employment offers. Because students regularly receive communications from multiple organizations during their time abroad, distinguishing legitimate requests from fraudulent ones can be challenging and therefore looked over.⁶ For example, universities globally have reported widespread phishing campaigns targeting students through emails that impersonate university IT services or Microsoft 365 login systems. In these incidents, students receive messages warning that their university account will be suspended or has been compromised, prompting them to re-authenticate via a provided link. The link directs users to a counterfeit login page that closely replicates official university portals. Once credentials are entered, attackers gain access to university email accounts, cloud storage, and learning management systems, which are then often used to send further phishing emails internally within the institution.⁷

• Identity theft and financial fraud represent another significant concern when it comes to cybersecurity threats to students abroad. During the study abroad experience, students often share personal information with universities, landlords, banks, insurance providers, and government agencies. If this information is compromised through phishing attacks, data breaches, or insecure online practices, it can be used to facilitate unauthorized transactions, account takeovers, or broader forms of identity fraud. The financial impact can be especially severe for international students who may have limited access to local support networks or financial resources.⁸ For example, UK law enforcement agencies such as Action Fraud and multiple universities have reported recurring accommodation-related fraud campaigns targeting students, particularly at the start of academic terms. In these incidents, attackers impersonate university housing offices or private landlords and send fraudulent emails or messages instructing students to pay deposits or update tenancy details through fake portals or bank transfers. Victims who comply often transfer funds or submit personal documents such as passports and proof of address, which are then used to commit further identity fraud or open financial accounts in the victim’s name.⁹

• The widespread use of public Wi-Fi networks also introduces cybersecurity risks. Students often rely on internet access that is provided by airports, hotels, cafés, libraries, and public transportation hubs. While modern web encryption has reduced many traditional risks associated with public networks, cybercriminals continue to exploit users through fake Wi-Fi hotspots, malicious login portals, and social engineering techniques designed to capture credentials. Students who are unfamiliar with local networks may be particularly susceptible to these tactics.¹⁰ For example, security agencies such as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have repeatedly documented cases of “evil twin” Wi-Fi attacks environments commonly used by students, including university campuses, libraries, accommodation buildings, and nearby public spaces. In these incidents, attackers create rogue wireless networks that mimic legitimate venue Wi-Fi names. Once users connect, they can be redirected to fake captive portals that attempt to gain login credentials or personal information, or silently intercept unencrypted traffic.¹¹

• In addition to threats directed at individuals, students may also be affected by cyberattacks targeting educational institutions. Universities continue to be targets for cybercriminals due to the large volumes of personal, financial, and research data they hold. Ransomware attacks, credential theft campaigns, and compromises involving third-party service providers can disrupt academic operations and expose student information. As a result, student accounts are often viewed as valuable entry points into broader institutional systems.¹²  For example, a cybercriminal may compromise a third-party education service used by multiple universities (such as a learning platform or student portal). Once access is gained, attackers can exploit trusted system integrations to harvest student credentials or distribute malicious login prompts that appear fully legitimate. Because the message originates from a trusted platform, students are more likely to enter their credentials, inadvertently granting access to institutional systems. In May 2026 the Canvas Learning Management System (a learning system used widely by thousands of educational institutions globally) experienced a large-scale cyber incident where they were attacked by a group called ShinyHunters. The threat actors claimed access to student data including names, email addresses, student IDs, and internal messages.¹³

Traveler Guidance

To mitigate these risks, students must adopt a defensive cybersecurity posture before and during their travel along with learning how to respond. 

Before departure:

• Preparing devices and accounts before travel is one of the most effective ways students can reduce their cybersecurity risk while abroad. Prior to departure, students should ensure that all operating systems, applications, and security software are fully updated to protect against known vulnerabilities.

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be enabled on all critical accounts. This includes university portals, email services, cloud storage platforms, and financial applications, as this provides an additional layer of protection if passwords are compromised. Using a password manager and maintaining unique passwords across accounts can further reduce the risk of credential compromise.

• Students should also create secure backups of important academic, personal, and travel-related information before leaving. Backups should be stored separately from primary devices, either through reputable cloud services or encrypted external storage.

While abroad:

• Maintaining high standards for cybersecurity practices throughout the study-abroad experience is essential for protection and security. Students should exercise caution when connecting to unfamiliar networks and should prioritize trusted connections whenever possible. Options of mobile data connections or personal hotspots generally provide a more secure option when accessing financial services, university systems, or other sensitive accounts. When public Wi-Fi must be used, students should verify the legitimacy of the network, avoid accessing highly sensitive information, and ensure websites use secure HTTPS connections.¹⁴

• Students should also remain vigilant for phishing attempts and other forms of social engineering for the duration of their time abroad. Cybercriminals frequently impersonate universities, government agencies, banks, landlords, and technology providers to obtain personal information or financial details. Any unexpected request involving payments, account credentials, personal information, or urgent action should be independently verified through official channels before a response is provided.

• Alongside cybersecurity threats, students must also contend with physical security risks. Students should not leave devices unattended in public places, and strong authentication measures such as passcodes, biometric security, or multi-factor authentication should be used whenever possible. Students should also be mindful of their surroundings when accessing sensitive information in shared spaces such as libraries, cafés, airports, or public transportation.

Responding to a cybersecurity incident:

• Despite the efforts of preventative measures, cybersecurity incidents can still occur. If a student believes an account has been compromised, passwords should be changed immediately and active sessions terminated where possible. Financial institutions should be notified and paused if banking information or payment credentials may have been exposed, and university IT departments should be informed if institutional accounts are affected.

• Students should also preserve any evidence related to the incident, including suspicious emails, text messages, screenshots, transaction records, or communication logs. This information can assist investigators and support recovery efforts. Depending on the nature of the incident, reports may also need to be submitted to local law enforcement, national cybersecurity agencies, financial institutions, or university security teams.

1. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/study/news/2025/mar/scams-continuing-target-international-students ↩︎
2. https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.07755 ↩︎
3. https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/four-cybersecurity-essentials-sltts ↩︎
4. https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.18715?utm ↩︎
5. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/report/the-cyber-threat-to-universities ↩︎
6. https://arxiv.org/abs/1811.06078?utm ↩︎
7.  https://isnews.stir.ac.uk/2026/04/28/ ↩︎
8. https://business.bofa.com/en-us/content/cybersecurity-for-students.html ↩︎
9. https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/life-in-the-uk/accommodation/ ↩︎
10. https://tdx.vanderbilt.edu/TDClient/33/Portal/KB/PrintArticle?ID=286 ↩︎
11. https://itsecurity.blog.fordham.edu/2025/10/23/ ↩︎
12. https://www.upguard.com/blog/education-sector-cyber-attacks ↩︎
13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3pq0136eqo ↩︎
14. https://uk.norton.com/blog/privacy/public-wifi?srsltid ↩︎